Printing machine



Dec. 9, 1958 A. J. WRIGHT 2,863,385

PINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 -4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 9, 1958 A. J.WRIGHT PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 24, 1956 Dec. 9,1958 A. J. WRIGHT PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 Q Q N\ Ww NM.

INVENTOR. Tfn/ffy@ 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 9, 1958 A. J. WRIGHT PRINTINGMACHINE United States Patent O PRINTING MACHINE Ansel J. Wright,Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Master rlddresser Company, Minneapolis,Minn., a partners 1p Application August 24, 1956, Serial No. 606,086

9 Claims. (Cl. 101-133) My invention relates generally to a printingmachine and more specifically to a printing machine utilizing the spirittransfer process of printing and a master element havingspirit-responsive transfer material imprinted thereon,

Printnig machines of this type are commonly referred to as spiritduplicators and function as follows: The matter to be duplicated isfirst printed in reverse o-n a master sheet from hectographic carbon.Copy or impression sheets are individually moistened by the machine withspirit solvent or duplicator liuid. While an impression sheet is in amoistened condition, it is brought into intimate face-to-face contactwith the reversely printed master sheet or element under suiicientpressure to dissolve the amount of copying ink out of the master sheetor element necessary to produce a positive copy of the printed matter onthe impression sheet.

More particularly, my invention relates to a printing machine of theaforementioned type having a normally flat stationary bed, whereon oneor a plurality of copy sheets are retained during the copying orduplicating operation. An impression roller and a moistening roller aremounted for common longitudinal mo-vement over the printing bed and forpivotal swinging movements toward and away from the bed. The impressionroller and moistening roller are normally spaced apart so that a masterelement is positioned between the rollers with the reversely printedside generally facing the impression sheet. The impression roller andmoistening roller are then swung pivotally toward the bed and then movedlongitudinally across the bed so that a path of printing fluid is laidon the impression sheet by the moistening roller. The impression rollerfollows after the moistening process, pressing the carbon side orreversely printed side of the master element against the moistenedimpression sheet to produce a positive copy of the printed matter.

Although my novel and improved printing machine is adapted to performthe usual duplicating or printing functions of similar machines nowknown in the art, it is particularly effective with respect to twofunctions wherein it is novel and/or highly superior over any similarmachines now known in the art, to wit:

(l) My novel and improved printing machine is particularly adapted andeffective in making a quick print or prints from a single masterelement; and,

(2) My novel and improved printing machine is particularly adapted tomake a print from a master element which has been attached to a recordcard of any size; that is, the same machine is adapted to be used With avariety of record cards of various sizes each having a master elementattached therewith or formed as a part thereof.

Thus, one important object of my invention is to provide a novel andimproved printing machine which is capable of effectively accomplishingthe aforementioned functions; although it should be clearly understoodthat my invention is not limited in use to such functions but ice can beadapted to almost any repetitive printing or duplicating job.

Another object of my invention is to provide a printing machine of thetype described whereby the master element is disposed during theprinting process in a position that the printed matter to be reproducedcan be easily read by the operator.

Further objectives and advantages of the instant invention is to providea printing machine of the type described which is compact and rugged inconstruction, durable in use, relatively inexpensive and yet engineeredto make the highest quality reproductions with the utmost simplicity ofoperation.

Other objectives and advantages of my invention will become apparent inthe course of the following specification and claims, reference beinghad to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the printing machine of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 and showing a different position ofsome of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged view partly in elevation and partly invertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

v some parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 5 but showing some of theparts thereof moved to the same position as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. l;and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly inbottom plan taken on the broken line 8 8 of Fig. 5, some parts beingbroken away.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like parts will beindicated by the same numeral, a generally rectangular base portion isindicated in its entirety by the numeral 10, and comprises plate-likemetallic member 11 having a pad member 12 formed of felt, rubber or thelike rigidly anchored to the underside thereof, and adapted to preventmarring a supporting surface, and having a somewhat resilient basemember 13 formed of rubber the like rigidly anchored to the top sidethereof. Pad member 12 conforms to and completely covers the undersideof plate-like member 11; whereas, base member 13 only partially coversplate-like metallic member 11 leaving a portion adjacent the rearwardend 14 thereof uncovered. Base portion 1t) defines a printing bed, whichfor ease of identification will be given the general reference numeral15, and the top surface of base member 13 is adapted to receive one or aplurality of copy or irnpression sheets 16.

Frame structure, indicated generally by the numeral 17, comprises a pairof laterally spaced upstanding frame members 18 each having ahorizontally disposed outwardly projecting flange 19 rigidly anchored toplatelike metallic member 11 adjacent the rearward end 14 thereof, byscrews or the like. Each of the frame members 18 has a pair ofvertically spaced laterally inwardly projecting horizontal flanges 20which define oppositely disposed horizontal guideways 21 upwardly spacedfrom base portion 10. A generally U-shaped carriage element 22 includesa pair of oppositely disposed depending side flanges 23, and to each isjournaled by bolts or the like a pair of horizontally alignedlongitudinally spaced laterally outwardly projecting mounting rollers24. Mounting rollers 24 are disposed in guideways 21 to mount carriageelement 22 for longitudinal movement alternately in opposite directionsover the base portion 10. Each of the frame members 18 has an integral.inwardly projecting flange 25 extending between anges 20 at thepatented Dec. 9, 1958.

rearward end of guideway 21 formed thereby; and adjustable stop screws26 extend through flanges 25 to limit rearward or retracting movementsof carriage element 22. A pair of slotted adjustable stop plates 27 areeach connected to the top flange 28 of a different one of the framemembers 18, and each has a depending lug 28 which is engageable with thecarriage element 22 to limit forward or advancing movements thereof. Theretracted position of carriage element 22 is defined as its po-sitionwhen the rearwardmost rollers 24 engage adjustable stop screws 26, whichis shown in and 2; and the advanced position of carriage element 22 isdelined as its position when it is in engagement with the depending lugs28 of stop plates 27, which position is generally shown in Figs. 3 and5.

Mounting structure, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 29,comprises a pair of laterally spaced generally vertically disposedsupporting plates It@ each defining rearward and forward dependingmounting ears 3l and 32 and a cam-acting flange portion 33. Mountingstructure 29 further comprises a bail 34 having each of its arms 35rigidly anchored to a dierent one of the supporting plates 3i) by screwsor the like 36 and a transverse connecting rod 37. A knob-like handle 38is anchored to bail 34 at the apex or junction of arms thereof. Each ofthe supporting plates 3:8 of mounting structure 29 is received in adifferent one of a pair of laterally spaced forwardly opening slots 39formed in carriage element 22 to dispose rearward mounting ears 31 eachadjacent a different one ofthe flanges 23 in laterally inwardly spacedparallel relationship therewith. Each of the mounting ears 3l isjournaled on a diiferent one of a pair of horizontally disposed axiallyaligned pivot bolts 40 which extend between the mounting ears 31 andflanges 23 of carriage element 22 to connect mounting structure 29 tocarriage element 22 for longitudinal movements in common therewith andfor pivotal swinging movements about the horizontal axis defined bypivot bolts 40 toward and away from printing bed 1S. A transverse bar 41is rigidly connected at its opposite ends to supporting plates 3@adjacent but upwardly spaced from pivot bolts 4d, and is engageable withan adjustable stop screw 42 screwthreaded into a depending flangeportion 43 of an angle bracket 44, which is rigidly anchored by weldingor the like to carriage element 22 centrally intermediate anges 23. Alock nut 45 is associated with stop screw 42. The engagement oftransverse bar 4l with stop screw 42 limits the pivotal movement ofmounting structure 29 away from printing bed 15.

An impression roller 46 formed of rubber or the like is mounted on ashaft 47 which extends axially beyond the limits of roller 46. Shaft 47is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 43 connected to forwardmounting ears 32 to mount impression roller 46 for rotation with respectto mounting structure 29 about a horizontal axis at right angles to thedirection of longitudinal movement of carriage element 22. impressionroller 46 is disposed forwardly of carriage element 22 in the directionof advancing movements thereof; the movement of carriage element 22 fromits retracted position to its advanced position being considered aforward movement thereof. Impression roller 46 by its connection withmounting structure 29 is longitudinally movable therewith over theprinting bed l and is pivotally swingable therewith toward and away fromprinting bed l5' 'between an operative position, adjacent the bed, and anormal position upwardly spaced therefrom. Impression roller 46 is atits normal position when mounting structure 29 is at its limit ofpivotal swinging movement in a direction away from bed 15, that is, whentransverse bar 41 is in engagement with stop screw 42. impression roller46 is shown in its normal position in Figs. 1, 3, and 5; and it is shownin its operative position in Figs. 4 and 6.

A generally channel-shaped mounting member, indicated in its entirety bythe numeral 48 comprises a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposeddepending side portions 49, which are tapered, and an inter-connectingcentral portion d@ integral with side portions 49 and which overliesprinting bed 15. Central portion 50 denes a normally forwardly slopingguide plate; and for ease of identication, central portion 5@ willhereinafter be referred to as guide plate 50. Side portions 49 arejournaled on pivot bolts 40, each in laterally inwardly disposedadjacent relationship with a different one of the rearward mounting ears31, to connect mounting member 48 to mounting structure 29 and carriageelement 22 for longitudinal movements in common therewith and forpivotal swinging movements with respect thereto about a horizontal axiscommon with the pivotal axis of mounting structure 29. A longitudinallyextended spirit transfer element 5l, which is a metallic moisteningroller, has a pair of axially aligned pinne-forming screws 52 rigidtherewith which are journaled in bearings 53 in the narrowed ends ofside portions 49 for connecting moistening roller 51 to mounting member48 for rotation about a horizontal axis at right angles to the directionof longitudinal movement of carriage element 22 and for bothlongitudinal and pivotal movement in common with mounting member 48.Moistening roller 5l is pivotally moveable toward and away from printingbed 15 between an operative copy sheet engaging position, which is shownin Figs. 4 and 6, and a normal position upwardly spaced therefrom, whichis shown in Fig. 5.

l provide a connection between mounting structure 29 and mounting member48 comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel rigid pins 54 eachhaving a head at one end and screw threaded at the other end. Pins 54are rigidly anchored at their threaded ends to transverse bar 41 by nuts55 and are journaled in depending bearing flanges 56, which are integralwith mounting member 48, for longitudinal movement with respect tobearing flanges 56. The connection between mounting structure 29 andmounting member 48 further comprises a pair of coiled compressionsprings 57 each encompassing a dilferent :one of the pins 54 between anut 55 and bearing flange 56 for yieldably biasing bearing flanges 56into engagement with the heads of pins 54. Mounting structure 29 andmounting member 48 are pivotally swingable toward and away from eachother about the common axis defined by pivot bolts 40 between maximumand minimum spaced positions. It is clear that pivotal movement ofmounting member 48 away from mounting structure 29 is limited by theengagement of bearing anges 56 with the head of pins 54, which definesthe maximum spaced position of mounting structure 29 and mounting member48. Mounting member 48 is pivotally swingable generally toward mountingstructure 29 against the bias of springs 57, which yieldably urgemounting structure 29 and mounting member 48 to their maximum spacedposition. Unless external force is applied tending to urge mountingmember 48 pivotally toward mounting structure 29, pivotally swingingmovements of mounting structure 29 will effect pivotal swingingmovements of mounting member 48 in common therewith. When impressionroller 46 is at its normal poistion and mounting structure 29 andmounting member 48 are in their maximum spaced positions, moisteningroller 51 will be disposed at its normal position. As shown in Figs. 5and 6, moistening roller Si has a shorter distance to travel between itsnormal position and its operative position than has impression roller46, Upon pivotal swinging movements of mounting structure 29 from itslimit of upward movement toward printing bed 15, mounting structure 29and mounting member 48 will move in common until moistening roller 51engages copy rsheet 16; thereupon further pivotal movement of mountingstructure 29 towards printing bed 15 moves mounting member 48 andmounting structure 29 pivotally toward one another from their maximumspaced position against the bias of springs 57 until impression roller46 reaches its operative position, shown in Fig. 6. l provide a pair oftorsion springs 58 each having a central coiled portion encompassing adifferent one of the pivot bolts 40 and each having one end 59 loopedabout the adjacent flange 23 and its other end 60 looped about theadjacent supporting plate 30 to yieldably bias mounting structure 29 toits limit of pivotal movement away from printing bed 15, which urgesirnpression roller 46 and moistening roller 51 to their normalpositions. lf the operator has applied pressure to the handle 38 to movemounting structure 29 pivotally downwardly until impression roller 46 isin its operative position and this pressure is then released, mountingstructure 29 will rst move away from printing bed 15 by the effect oftorsion springs 58 and moistening roller will be maintained in itsoperative position until mounting structure 29 and mounting member 48are in their maximum spaced positions; at which positions, furtherpivotal movement of mounting structure 29 upwardly will positively movemounting member 48 away from printing bed 15, and thereby movemoistening roller 51 from its 0perative position to its normal position.Thus, pivotal swinging movements of mounting member 48 is responsive topivotal movements of mounting structure 29 in the manner aforementioned;and torsion springs 58, by virtue of yieldably biasing mountingstructure 29 and therewith impression roller 46 to its normal position,will also yieldably bias mounting member 43 in a direction away fromprinting bed 15 and therewith moistening roller 51 to its normalposition.

Although this will be more fully claried in a discussion of theoperation of my invention, it should be noted that moistening roller 51is rearwardly disposed with respect to impression roller 46 whereby uponprinting movements of carriage element 22 and attached structure, whichis in the direction of longittudinal movement of carriage element 22from its advanced position to its retracted position, moistening roller51 will first pass over copy sheet 16 and impression roller 46 willfollow after to press a master element 59 into engagement withthemoistened copy sheet 16. Also, impression roller 46 and moisteningroller 51 are vertically spaced when they are in their normal positionsso that a master element 59 can pass into the area therebetween.

I provide a moistening device which comprises the aforementionedmoistening roller 51, a well 60', and relatively movable wick elements61 and 62. Well 60 is rigidly anchored to base portion 1t) at therearward end 14 of plate-like member 11 thereof, by any suitable means,intermediate frame members 18. Wick element 61 is anchored to asupporting and guard-plate 63 which in turn is connected to well 60.Plate 63 partially overlies the open top of well 60 leaving open aportion thereof adapted to receive an inverted bottle 64 of spirit inl;solvent. Plate 63 is preferably formed of a thin metal sheet and has aforwardly-projecting beveled end portion 65 which mounts the underlyingportion of wick element 61 in proper position to be engaged by thesecond wick element 62, carried by mounting member 48, when carriageelement 22 is at its retracted position. Wick element 62 is iixedlymounted on the supporting plate 66 which is shaped as shown in Fig. 6whereby end portion 67 of wick element 62 is adapted to engagemoistening roller 51 and the other end portion 68 of wick element 62 isadapted to engage wick element 61. Wick element 62 and its mountingplate 66 are connected to mounting member 48 by a pair of oppositelydisposed angle brackets 69 which are anchored to side portions 49 byscrews 70. Wiel; element 62 and its supporting plate 66 are mounted bybrackets 69 for limited movement toward and away from moistening roller51. A pair of sleeveforming members 71 are each rigidly anchored, bywelding or the like, to a different one of the side portions 49 ofmounting member 48. Sleeve-forming members 71 the act to containcompression springs 72 disposed between bearing flanges 56 andoppositely disposed abutments integral with plate 66 to yieldably urgeend portion 67 of wick 62 into engagement with moistening roller 51. Themounting of wick 62 acts to take up any wear thereof and to insureproper engagement of wick 62 with moistening roller 51.

Guide plate 50 acts as a guard overlying impression roller 51 and wickel-ement 62; and the forward end 73 of guide plate 50 partially followsthe arcuate curvature of impression roller 51 to provide a smoothlyrounded end. A longitudinally extended guide stop member 74 is disposednormally at right angles to the direction of longitudinal movement ofcarriage element 22 and is adapted to square up the top of masterelement 59 in a manner which will be brought out further during anexplanation of the operation of my device. Guide stop member 74 has atiat base portion 75 which slidably engages guide plate 50 for movementbetweenA the limits defined by the ends of slot 76, formed in guidevplate 50 and extending longitudinally in the direction of movement ofcarriage element 22. Integral guide stop member 74 further includes theflange portion 77 inclined with respect to guide plate 50, and adepending guide lug 7S which projects into slot 76. A nut-equipped screw79 projects through slot 76 and flange portion 75 to adjustably secureguide stop member 74 to guide plate 50.

A split ring supporting bracket 80 is anchored to frame structure 17 bystop screws 26 and actsto support bottle 64 in position.

A master element supporting means is indicated in its entirety Iby thenumeral S1, and comprises a pair of laterally-spaced arms 82, eachpivotally connected to a different one of the frame members 18 inadjacent laterally outwardly disposed relationship by bolts 83. Masterelement supporting means 81 further comprises a tray-like element 84which is a thin tiexible metallic U-shaped member releasably connectedby screws 35 i to arms S2. The central bridge portion 86 of tray-likeelement 84 has upstandng lugs 87 which cooperate with theoppositely-disposed opstanding ends 88 of traylike element 84 to containthe master element 59' on tray-like element 84. Tray-like element S4 ispreferably of U-shape to provide the cut-out central portion so that theprinted matter to be reproduced from the master element 59' may bepressed into engagement with the copy sheet 16. Each of the arms 82 hasan inturned flange 89 engageable with the adjacent frame member 13 tolimit upward pivotal movement of master element supporting means 81. Iprovide a pair of torsion springs 90, each having a coiled centralportion encompassing a diiferent one of the bolts 83 and its endsanchored one to an arm 82 and the other to a frame member 18, foryieldably urging master element supporting means 81 to its limit ofpivotal movement wherein flanges S9 engage frame members 18. Thisdeiines the raised position of master element supporting means 81.Supporting means 81 at its raised position is adapted to support themaster element 59 so that it will pass between impression roller 46 andguide plate Sil when the impression roller 46 and moistening roller 51are in their normal positions and during advancing movements of carriageelement 22. Tray-like element 84 is pivotally swinga-ble downwardly fromits raised position toward the printing bed 15 to its lowered positionwherein it overlies a copy sheet 16 and supports the master element 59in position to be pressed into engagement therewith by impression roller46. l provide a pair of cooperating slotted margin guides 91 which maybe adjustably secured to base portion 10 by screws 92 passing throughthe slots of margin guides 91 and screw-threaded into the plate-likemetallic member 11 of base portion 10. The position of the print on theimpression sheet or copy sheet 16 is adjusted by setting margin guides91. Forveasy adjustment, a scale indicated by the num-eral 93 isimprinted on the base member i3 and calibrated in typewriter lines;moving margin guides 91 one space on the scale will Achange the printposition one typewriter line.

The operation of my vinvention is as follows:

When the parts of my printing machine are as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3,carriage element 22 is at its retracted position, impression roller 46is at its normal position, moistening roller 51 is at its normalposition, and master element supporting means dit is at its raisedposition. At the retracted position of carriage element 22, wickelements 61 and 62 are in engagement, as shown in full and dotted linesin Fig. 5, wick element 62 being shown in dotted lines. Bottle 64 islled with spirit ink solvent to supply well 60 from which the engagedwick elements 6l and 62 will become saturated with spirit ink solvent.Assuming margin guides 9i to be properly positioned, the copy sheet lois placed on the printing bed with its top edge engaging margin guides9i. Although only a single copy sheet 16 is shown on the printing bedl5, a stack or plurality of such sheets up to one-quarter inch thick maybe placed on printing bed 15 at one time. Master element 59 ispositioned on tray-like element 8d as shown in Fig. l, with thereversely printed or carbon side facing downwardly toward the copy sheetlo. The operator by handle 3S moves mounting structure 29, and therewithcarriage element 22 and mounting member 48 longitudinally forwardly,that is, in an advancing direction of movement of carriage element 22,which will normally be a movement toward the operator, withoutdepressing handle 38 so that impression roller 46 and moistening rollerSi are maintained in their normal positions. This forward movementcontinues until limited by stop plates 27. Handle 3S is then depressedto move mounting structure 29 pivotally downwardly toward printing bedi5. This mov-es impression roller 46 from its normal position to itsoperative position and moves moistening roller 51 from its normalposition to its operative position. l provide cam followers which are apair of rollers 94 each connected for rotation about a horizontal axisto a different one of the arms 82 by a pivot pin '95 or the like.Rollers 94 are positioned so that each is engaged by a different one ofthe cam acting flange portions 33 of mounting structure 29 at theadvanced position of carriage element 22 so that upon depressingmovements of handle 38, master element supporting means 81 is moved fromits raised position to its lowered position in which it engages the copysheet lo in overlying relationship. Moistening roller 5l at itsoperative position is in engagement with copy or impression sheet 16forward, that is, longitudinally spaced in the direction of advancingmovements of. carriage element 22, of the space to be imprinted on copysheet lo. While maintaining handle 38 depressed under pressure, it ismoved away from the operator or in the direction to move carriageelement 22 from its advanced position toward its retracted position.During this movement, a path of printing or spirit ink solvent is laidon copy sheet 16 by moistening roller Si, which is fed by wick element62 in engagement therewith. Impression roller 46 follows thereafter,pressing the reversely printed or carbon side of master element 59against the moistened copy sheet 16. A small amount of the carbonmaterial is `dissolved and transferred to the copy sheet. When theoperator releases handle 38 after printing copy sheet 16, impressionroller 46 and moistening roller 5l. will be returned to their normalpositions, and carriage element 22 should be returned to its retractedposition to insure that wick element 6l will convey suihcient spirit inksolvent to the movable wick element 62 for further operation. Theprinting process aforementioned may be repeated if desired.

Adjustments of my printing machine are as follows: The adjustment ofmargin guides 91 has already been mentioned. Guide stop member 74 isadjusted longitudinally of the direction of movement of carriage element22 so that it will square up the top of master element 59 when carriageelement 22 reaches its advanced position during movement thereof fromits retracted position. The positioning of stop plates 27 determines theextent of movement of carriage element 22 between its retracted andadvanced positions. Master element supporting means @Il is not essentialto the operation of my printing machine and tray-like element 84 may beremoved for certain phases of operation. Master element supporting means@it is particularly convenient when using a plurality of relativelysmall identical master elements like the one specifically shown here andidentified by the numeral 59. lt should be pointed out that when usingmaster element supporting 4means 8l, that is, when tray-like element 84is in position, stop plates 27 are adjusted to dispose moistening roller51 at the advanced position of carriage element 22 just rearwardly, thatis in the direction of retracting movements of carriage element 2?., ofbridge portion 36 of tray-like element 84. It might be noted thatmounting member 48 is of a width such that it is able to pass betweenthe laterally spaced sides of tray-like element S4 into the spacebordered by tray-like element To provide additional printing area,tray-like element 84 may be removed by loosening screws S5 and stopplates 27 may be moved forwardly, that is in the direction of advancingmovements of carriage element 22, as far as necessary to give theadditional printing area desired and locked in their new position.

As aforementioned, guide plate 50 acts as a guard over impression rollerSi. and wick element 62; in addition, and for this reason it has beendesignated as a guide plate, plate 5t) cooperates with guide stop member74 to square up the top of master element 59 during movement of carriageelement 22 from its retracted to its advanced position. The smoothbeveled surface of guide plate 50 will guide the master element S9 tothe guide stop member 74.

The beveled or sloping surface of guide plate 5t) provides for themounting member 48 to smoothly move from under master element 59 duringprinting movements of my machine or somewhat shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The stop screw d2 which determines the limit of upward pivotal movementof mounting structure 29 likewise determines the normal or at restposition of moistening member i3 as aforementioned. Thus, the adjustmentof stop screw 42 can raise or lower the at rest position of mountingmember 4S. Normally, it is best that mounting member 4S be allowed toraise as high as possible. However, should a master element 59 curldownwardly when set on the tray-like element 84 to the extent that itcatches on guide plate 5d, and is not properly guided to the guide stopmember 74, an adjustment of stop screw 42 in a direction to decrease theamount of upward pivotal movement of mounting structure 29 will lowerthe normal or at rest position of moistening member d to avoid theaforementioned diiculty.

One important feature of my invention is that it can be used with amaster element which has been attached to or formed as a part of arecord card of almost any size; that is the same machine is adapted tobe used with a variety of record cards of various sizes, each cardhaving a master element portion. rhis flexibility of operation isimportant. ln this regard, a tray-like clement 8-4.- is convenient forholding master elements of standard sizes and such tray-like elements hemight be provided in a plurality of standard sizes. However, asaforementioned, tray-like element tid is not essential and may beremoved when using my machine for use with record cards which are not ofa standard size or are possibly too large to be conveniently positionedon a tray-like element 84. `The printing operation of my machine isessentially the same as aforementioned whether the traylike element 84is used or not, except if the tray-like element 84 is not used, it isclear that the operator must hold the master element 59 in position topass between impression roller 46 and moistening roller 51 during themovement of carriage element 22 from its retracted to its advancedposition. Normally, carriage element 22 will be moved to its advancedposition, and the operator will then place a master element betweenimpression roller 46 and guide plate 50 with its top edge abutting guidestop member74. The handle 33 is then depressed and the printingoperation of my machine will proceed as aforementioned.

Another advantage of my machine is that the master element 59', whenheld in position for printing therefrom, either by hand or by tray-likeelement 84, the reversed carbon side faces downwardly away from theoperator so that the side facing the operator is correctly disposed forreading the matter to be printed. Thus, at a glance, the operator canposition the master element and at the same time read the printed matterto be sure it is the proper matter to be printed.

My novel and improved printing machine has been built and tested andfound to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of theaforementioned objectives and advantages; and while I have shown anddescribed a commercial embodiment thereof, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that my invention may be modied by many substitutionsand equivalents and that this vdisclosure is intended to be illustrativeonly. Therefore I intend to be limited solely by the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a printing machine utilizing the spirit transfer process and amaster element having material to be reproduced imprinted thereon, anormally generally horizontally disposed base portion which defines aprinting bed, frame structure rigidly anchored to said base portion anddefining generally horizontally disposed guideways spaced from said baseportion, a carriage element mounted in said guideways for limitedlongitudinal movement alternately in opposite directions between aretracted position and an advanced position, a generally horizontallydisposed impression roller adapted for pressing the master element intoengagement with a copy sheet resting on the printing bed, mounting meansconnecting said roller to said carriage element for longitudinalmovements therewith over said printing bed and for movements toward andaway from said bed between an operative position adjacent the bed and anormal position upwardly spaced therefrom, a moistening devicecomprising a longitudinally extended spirit transfer element adapted toengage the copy sheet, said spirit transfer element being mounted inlaterally spaced parallel relationship with said roller for longitudinalmovement with said carriage element and for movements toward and awayfrom said printing bed between an operative copy sheet engaging positionand a normal position upwardly spaced therefrom, said spirit transferelement at its normal position being downwardly spaced from said rollerat its normal position, master element supporting means connected tosaid frame structure for limited movements between a raised position anda lowered position, and resilient means yieldably biasing saidsupporting means to its raised position, said supporting means at itslowered position supporting said master element adjacent the copy sheetin position to be pressed into engagement with said copy sheet by saidroller and said supporting means at its raised position supporting saidmaster element to pass between said roller and said spirit transferelement when they are in their normal positions.

2. The structure defined in claim l in which said master elementsupporting means comprises a thin exible tray-like element.

`3. The structure defined in` claim 1, in which said moistening devicecomprises a spirit iluid reservoir anchored to said base portion, a rstwick element xed with respect to said base portion fed by saidreservoir, a second wick element in fixed relation with respect to saidspirit transfer element and mounted to engage said rst wick element atthe retracted position of said carriage element, and said spirittransfer element comprising a moistening roller mounted in engagementwith said second wick, element.

.4. In av printing machine utilizing the spirit transfer process and amaster element having material to be re- -produced imprinted thereon, anormally generally horizontally disposed base portion which defines aprinting bed, frame structure rigidly anchored to said base portion anddefining generally horizontally disposed guideways spaced from said baseportion, a carriage element mounted in said guideways for limitedlongitudinal movement alternately in opposite directions between aretracted position and an advanced position, mounting structureconnected to said carriage element for longitudinal movements therewithand for limited pivotal swinging movements with respect thereto towardand away from said bed, a generally horizontally disposed impressionroller connected to said mounting structure forwardly of said carriageelement in the direction of advancing movements thereof for rotation andfor pivotal movements therewith between an operative position adjacentthe bed and a normal position upwardly spaced therefrom, a moisteningdevice comprising a moistening roller, a mounting member connected tosaid mounting structure for longitudinal movements in common therewithand for pivotal swinging movements with respect thereto, said moisteningroller being connected to said mounting member for rotation and disposedin laterally spaced parallel relationship with said impression rollerintermediate said impression roller and said carriage element, saidmounting member comprising a. normally forwardly sloping guide plateoverlying said moistening roller, said moistening roller being pivotallyswingable with said mounting member between an operative copy sheetengaging position and a normal position upwardly spaced therefrom, saidguide plate and said moistening roller at the normal position of thelatter being downwardly spaced from said impression roller at its normalposition, connecting means between said mounting structure and saidmounting member 'whereby the latter is pivotally swingable responsive topivotal movements of the former, resilient means yieldably biasing saidmounting structure and said `mounting member to their limit of pivotalmovement away from said bed to urge said impression roller and saidmoistening roller to their normal positions, master element supportingmeans pivotally connected to said frame structure for limited swingingmovements between a raised position and a lowered position, saidsupporting means at its lowered position supporting said master elementadjacent the copy sheet in position to be pressed into engagement withsaid copy sheet by said impression roller and said supporting means atits raised position supporting said master element to pass between saidimpression roller and said guide plate when said impression roller andmoistening roller are in their normal positions and upon advancingmovements of said carriage element, and resilient means yieldablybiasing said supporting means to its raised position.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which said master elementsupporting means comprises a thin ilexible metallic tray-like element.

6. The structure dened in claim 4 in which said moistening devicecomprises a spirit fluid reservoir anchored to said base portion, a rstwick element Xed 4with respect to said base portion fed by saidreservoir, a

7. In a printing machine utilizing the spirit transfer process and amaster Velement having material to be reproduced imprinted thereon, anormally generally horizontally disposed base portion which defines aprinting bed, frame structure rigidly anchored to said base portion anddefining generally horizontally disposed guideways spaced from said baseportion, a carriage element mounted in said guideways for limitedlongitudinal movement alternately in opposite directions between aretracted position and an advanced position, handleequipped mountingstructure connected to said carriage element for longitudinal movementstherewith and for limited pivotal swinging movements with respectthereto toward and away from said bed, a generally horizontally disposedimpression roller connected to said mounting structure forwardly of saidcarriage element in the ldirection of advancing movements thereof forrotation about a horizontal axis and for pivotal movements therewithbetween an operative position adjacent the bed and a normal positionupwardly spaced therefrom, a moistening device comprising a moisteningroller and a wick element, a mounting member connected to said mountingstructure for longitudinal movements in common therewith and for pivotalswinging movements with respect thereto about a horizontal axis commonwith the pivotal axis of said mountingvstructure, said moistening rollerbeing connected to said mounting member for rotation and disposed inlaterally spaced parallel relationship with said impressi-on rollerintermediate said impression roller and said carriage element, said wickelement being connected to said mounting member in engagement with saidmoistening roller, said mounting member comprising a normally forwardlysloping guide plate overlying said moistening roller and wick element,said moistening roller being pivotally swingable with said mountingmember between an operative copy sheet engaging position and a normalposition upwardly spaced therefrom, said guide plate and said moisteningroller at the normal position of the latter being downwardly spaced fromsaid impression roller at its normal position, connecting meanscomprising a rigid element between said mounting structure and saidmounting member securely anchored to one and slidably connected to theother to permit relative'pivotal swinging movement of said mountingstructure and said mounting member generally toward and away from yeachother about said common axis between maximum and minimum spacedpositions and resilient means yieldably biasing said mounting structureand said mounting member to their maximum spaced position, otherresilient means yieldably biasing said mounting structure and saidmounting member to their limit of pivotal movement away from said bed tourge said impression roller and said moistening roller to their normalpositions, master element supporting means pivotally connected to saidframe structure for limited swinging movements generally toward and awayfrom said bed between a raised position and a lowered position, saidsupporting means at its lowered position supporting said master elementadjacent the copy sheet in position to be pressed into engagement withsaid copy sheet by said impression roller and said supporting means atits raised position supporting said master element to pass between saidimpression roller and said guide plate when said impression roller andmoistening roller are in their normal positions and upon advancingmovements of said carriage element, resilient means yieldably biasingsaid supporting means to its raised position, and a cam and cam followerone being rigidly connected to said supporting means and the other tosaid frame structure cooperating to maintain said supporting means atits lowered position when said impression roller is at its operativeposition and during movement of said carriage element from its advancedposition to its retracted position.

8. In a printing machine utilizing the spirit transfer process and amaster element having material to be reproduced imprinted thereon, anormally generally horizontally disposed base portion which defines aprinting bed, a generally horizontally disposed impression roller, meansfor mounting said roller on said base portion for limited longitudinalmovements in opposite directions generally perpendicular to the axisthereof over said printing bed and for limited movements toward and awayfrom said bed between a normal position upwardly spaced from said bedand an operative position adjacent the bed, a moistening devicecomprising a longitudinally extended spirit transfer element, means formounting said transfer element on said base portion in generallyparallel relationship with said roller laterally spaced therefrom in adirection of longitudinal movement of said roller and for limitedlongitudinal movements of said transfer element in common with saidroller and lfor limited movements of said transfer element toward andaway from said bed between a normal position upwardly spaced from thebed and an operative position adjacent the bed at which latter positionof the transfer element its lower portion is at generally the same levelas the pressure roller at its operative position, the space between thetransfer element at its normal position and the bed being free andunobstructed and adapted to receive a plurality of copy sheets, a masterelement supporting member positionable in spaced relation with saidtransfer element and said pressure roller and being positionable betweensaid roller and transfer element when the roller and transfer elementare upwardly spaced from their operative positions with the roller beingdisposed generally upwardly of the supporting member and the transferelement being disposed generally below the supporting member, saidsupporting member being mounted for movement toward and away from saidbed and to a position adjacent said bed whereby said supporting memberpositions the master element supported thereby in upwardly disposedrelation to said transfer element in operative engagement with a copysheet on said bed and in upwardly spaced relationship with that portionof the copy sheet to be moistened by the transfer element and inproximity with that portion of a copy sheet adjacent the pressure rollerand in position to be pressed into engagement therewith by said roller;whereby, the transfer element is adapted to engage and moisten a copysheet resting on the printing bed, said transfer element being movablelongitudinally over said bed and over and in engagement with a copysheet resting on said bed in common with but in advance of said pressureroller, and longitudinal movement of said pressure roller over said bedin its operative position under pressure will press a master elementsupported by said supporting member into printing engagement with amoistened copy sheet positioned on said bed in underlying relationshipwith said master element.

9, The structure defined in claim 8 in which said master elementsupporting member comprises a thin iiexible tray-like element adapted tosupport the master element with the material to be reproduced thereondisposed in exposed position and unobstructed by the supporting member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS1,951,068 Shephard Mar. 13, 1934 1,967,694 Weide July 24, 1934 2,019,703Hernlund Nov. 5, 1935 2,090,773 Wolfson v Aug. 24, 1937 2,757,609 WrightAug. 7, 1956 2,767,205 Wright Sept. 18, 1956

